Raft



R. MAILLOT Aug. 14, 1962 RAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tl. r e w W R? Filed Oct.5, 1960 PATENT A6E v7' Aug. '14, 1962 Filed Oct. 5, 1960 R. MAILLOT3,048,859

RAFT

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR Rager NAILLOT ,BJQML W AGENT 3,048,859Patented Aug. 14, 1932 Roger Maillot, Richelieu, Quebec, Canada,assignor to Norman Perlman, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Oct. 5, 1960,Ser. No. 60,652 3 Claims. (Cl. 9-11) The present invention relates to araft and has for its main object the provision of stabilizing means ofnew and simple construction which considerably diminishes tilting andpractically prevents overturning of the raft under unequally distributedload and under the action of Waves.

Another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a raft of the character described designed for use byswimmers, and which is of simple and relatively inexpensiveconstruction, requires a minimum of upkeep, is virtually unsinkable andcan be easily moved over water by paddling or the like.

Another important object of the present invention resides in theprovision of a raft with stabilizing means of the character described inthe form of a floating wharf section whereby several such sections maybe connected to one another for forming a wharf for use as a jett toenable access to pleasure craft and the like.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention willbecome more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring tothe drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a raft in accordance with theinvention in the form of a wharf section;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the same;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in accordance withthe invention in the form of a circular raft designed for use off shoreby swimmers and the like;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section of the second embodiment;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial cross-section of the stabilizer; and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the lower half of the raft.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like referencecharacters indicate like elements throughout, FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusiveillustrate a first embodiment in which the raft is in the form of awharf section or pontoon A. This pontoon A is preferably made of apolyester resin reinforced with glass fibers but can be made of anyother desired material. The pontoon or wharf section has a generallyrectangular shape and consists of two half body portions, namely a topbody portion 1, and a bottom body portion 2 cemented or otherwise unitedtogether to form a water tight hollow space. The top body portion 1comprises a top flat wall 3 shaped to form an upstanding rib 4- at theperimeter thereof and two transverse ribs 5 at the center portion. Theflat wall 3 is provided with an integral depending skirt 6 which flaresdownwardly and has at its outer edge an outwardly projecting flange 7.

The bottom body portion 2 consists of a bottom wall 8 made of two endparts 8' and a raised central part 8"; an inverted skirt 9 integrallydepends from the end parts 8 and is provided with a flange 10 mergingwith the edges of the central part 8" and adapted to fit against theflange 7 of the top body portion 1 to be cemented thereto in a watertight manner. The joint provided by the flanges 7 and 10 is preferablycovered with a rubber bumper 11.

In accordance with the present invention each end part 8 of the bottomwall 8 is provided with two transversely aligned, spaced, downwardlyprojecting inverted frusto-conical members 12 which can be cemented tothe end part 8 or made integral therewith and which are opened at theirlower end 13 while their upper end is closed by a bell shaped cap 14cemented to the inside face of the bottom wall part 8' at the peripheryof the base of the frusto-conical members 12.

Each frusto-conical member 12 is provided with a vent tube 15 incommunication with the top of cap 14 and extending vertically throughthe raft to open at 16 at the top wall 3.

The wharf section may be provided with eyes 17 along the sides thereoffor threading ropes 18 serving to interconnect the wharf sections. Alsosleeves 19 may be fixed along one side for removably inserting posts 20having holes at the upper ends thereof for threading a guard cable 21.

The Wharf section A floats in water but water will enter the invertedfrusto-conical members 12 to a more or less degree depending on the loadon the wharf section; the air enclosed within the top of the members 12is allowed to escape slowly or enter said conical members 12 dependingon the up and down movement of the wharf section or variation of waterlevel with respect to the wharf section. Thus, the conical members 12and their vent tube 15 act as stabilizers which have been found toconsiderably restrict the up and down and tilting movement of the wharfsec-tion under the action of the waves, and also to prevent overturningof the wharf section under unequal distribution of load.

In a sinking movement entry of the water within conic-a1 members 12 isretarded because of the presence of the cushion of air within saidmembers 12 which is allowed to leak in a restricted manner through venttube 15. Thus, the sinking movement is retarded. In a raising movement,the weight of the water confined within conical members 12 prevents thesection from raising too rapidly, the raising movement being controlledby the rate of entry of the air within conical members 12 through venttubes 15, so in practice, the up and down movements of the wharf sectionare considerably diminished under the action of waves. Suddenoverturning of the wharf section is prevented due to the weight of waterconfined within conical members 12 which can only escape therefrom in aslow manner.

The second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGURES 4 to 7inclusive. In this embodiment the raft takes the form of a circularfloating island adapted to be moved off shore and anchored and servingfor swim mers as a rest area, diving board and the like. This embodimentis also preferably made of polyester resin reinforced with glass fibers.

The raft in accordance with the second embodiment comprises a circulartop body portion 22 and a circular bottom body portion 23 cemented orotherwise secured together to form a water tight hollow compartment. Thetop body portion 22 has a flat top wall 24, a circular peripheral rib 25and a flaring downwardly extending skirt 26 provided with an outwardlyprojecting lip or flange 27. The bottom body portion 23 consists of aslightly tapered bottom wall 28 with a peripheral upwardly flaring skirt29 provided at its upper edge with an outwardly projecting flange or lip30 adapted to contact and be cemented to the flange 27 of the top bodyportion. A rubber bumper 31 is preferably fitted over the united flanges27 and 30. The bottom wall 28 is preferably provided with radiallydirected reinforcing ribs 32.

A downwardly extending, centrally located, inverted frusto-conicalmember 33 is integrally formed With bottom wall 28 and is provided witha bell-shaped cap 34 closing the top end of member 33. Member 33 isopened at its lower end 35 and is preferably beaded as shown at 36 toreinforce the edge of the lower end of member 33. The center of cap 34is provided with a venting aperture 37 in communication with a ventingtube 38 secured to the top 3 of cap 34 by sleeve 39. Tube 38 extendsvertically and passes through the top wall 24 Where it opens to theatmosphere.

A mast 40 fits over the projecting end of tube 38 and is rigidly securedto the top wall 24 and has a lateral opening 41 for the discharge of theair coming from tube 38. Mast 40 is provided with cross arms 42 atapproximately mid-height.

A cylindrical partition Wall 43 extends vertically through the watertight compartment of the raft and is fitted in Water tight manner overthe cylindrical part 44 of cap 34- and is secured at its upper edge tothe top wall 24. Wall 43 serves to support and reinforce the top wall 24and also defines an additional water tight compartment for the raft. Thebottom Wall 28 may be provided with an opening normally closed by arubber plug 45 and serving to empty the raft of any water which may haveleaked thereinto. A safety rope 46 encircles the raft and is threadedthrough eyes 47 secured to the side of the raft. A flexible rope ladder48 is attached to the rope 46 and enables the swimmers to climb onto theraft.

The circular raft can be made to spin upon itself about its verticalcentral axis by swinging ones body to the right and left while graspingthe cross arms 42. At a relatively small speed of rotation, theoccupants. will have diificulty in standing on the raft and will beprojected into water.

The raft in accordance with the second embodiment is characterised, asfor the first embodiment, by the provision of the stabilizer consistingof the conical member 33 and venting tube 38 which stabilizes the raftagainst up and down movement under the action of waves and virtuallyprevents overturning of the raft under unequal load distribution.

The raft in accordance with the second embodiment is preferably made ofpolyester resin reinforced with fibre glass but can also be made of anyother suitable material. While preferred embodiments in accordance withthe present invention have been illustrated and described it isunderstood that various modifications may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A raft comprising a body member defining a hollow Water tightcompartment having a bottom wall and a top wall, and a stabilizingassembly consisting of a clownwardly extending inverted frusto-conicalmember depending from the bottom wall and open at .its lower smaller endfor entrance of water therein, a bell-shaped cap member closing theupper larger end of said frusto-conical member, said upper larger endhaving a much smaller area than the area of said bottom Wall so as to beinwardly spaced from the edges of said bottom Wall and a venting tubeestablishing communication between the top of said cap member and theatmosphere above said top Wall, the space defined by said frusto-conicalmember, cap member and venting tube being separate from said hollowcompartment.

2. A raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body has a generallyrectangular shape and there is a stabilizing assembly adjacent eachcorner of said body member, said raft constituting a wharf sectionwhereby several such sections may be interconnected to form a floatingwharf.

3. A raft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body member has a circularshape and said frusto-conica l member is located at the center of saidbody section.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,749,958 Randell Mar. 11, 1930 2,792,164 Caufliel May 14, 19572,858,790 Russell Nov. 4, 1958 2,889,795 Parks June 9, 1959 2,906,531Merickel Sept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 794,390 Great Britain Apr. 30,1958

